Friday, 27 December 2013

Goodness and Mercy [1970]

Not Psalms 23:6, But Righteous All The Same

This is an outstanding brassrock album, holding its own
musically with Blood, Sweat and Tears and Chicago, but not in terms of
popularity. That musical match to the two mentioned and most famous horn bands
isn’t, admittedly, in the songwriting department, but in performance there is
an exuberance and jazzrock sensibility, including strong vocal in Dave Talisman,
that competes well if you like the genre. This is best reflected in third track
You Can’t Make Me Love You where the fuzzed
guitar and stabbing horn arrangements swirl around the growl of Talisman.
Fourth Dirty Annie is a fine BS&T
clone, homage to their musically righteous soul/gospel sound. Fifth Hello LA/Bye Bye Birmingham is a solid soulful version of this
Bramlett/Davis number and forms a neat trio of strong performances. Sixth Bring Back Funky Women provides space
for solos from Jerry Grant on sax and, more fully, Harry Kim on trumpet. There’s
a requisite whimsy in seventh Thousand
Pound Woman, and eighth Make It Easy
On Yourself foregrounds Talisman’s great growl again, with the organ peal of
Peter Martin and the rouse of more jazzy horn arrangements. The album closes at
its most psychedelic with The Circus Man
and its fuzzed guitar solo by John Trombatore, the whole number wrapped in percussion.

About Me

This blog is essentially for music reviews, including live gigs. Frequently heavy on 60s/70s nostalgia, the time of my musical growing-up, there is also an eclectic and contemporary range. In addition I fuel a commitment to posting themed album covers for the simple challenge and fun of it - as I've started, I'll keep going. Enjoy.